Noble Rot
Wine - Booze - Food - View
HISTORY
The fungus, BOTRYTIS CINEREA, shrivels up grapes and robs them of much of their juice. In some cases the wine made from these fuzzy raisins is exquisite. Those clever Brits nicknamed this mouthful of a mold “Noble Rot.” Kimberly Bernosky had a vision for a restaurant that would bear this peculiar name and Courtney Storrs, helped her realize it.
The restaurant opened in May of 2002 in what looked like a two story garage on Southeast 28th and Ankeny. An ancient plank of Fir split the diners from the staff and a little shoebox of a kitchen pumped out hot food as we made salads, sandwiches and charcuterie behind the bar. Kimberly and Courtney introduced the idea of wine “flights”: three wines organized around a theme (varietal, geographical, producers, etc…). Portland freaked out. The Rot was at once sophisticated, welcoming, educational, delicious, vibrant and wacky.
The food was wine driven- small, seasonal plates designed to support the rotating offerings from Kimberly and Courtney. There were signature dishes almost immediately: onion tart, Noble salad, our gooey mac and cheese and a deceptively simple brownie with caramel and vanilla ice cream. We also flexed a little bit, serving more elaborate dishes featuring local fish, meats & foraged fungi. Willamette Week named us Restaurant of the Year in 2003.
In 2008, when we moved to the Burnside Rocket Building, on Eleventh and Burnside, we shed a lot of funky. Our new space, on the fourth floor of a modern building, is suave and airy with a panoramic vista of the entire city. We have a liquor license so you can booze it up before your burgundy. We have a muscular kitchen that can handle sophisticated preparations and significantly more business. We have an organic rooftop garden that supplies produce and inspiration 7 months out of the year.
We grew up a little but we didn’t sacrifice our spirit. We still have a private dining room for anything you can dream up. Courtney and Kimberly continue to offer innovative flights and hard-to find, delicious wines at reasonable prices. And the food, while broader in scope, continues to reflect seasonality and creativity in the service of our wine program. We remain dedicated hosts, committed to providing a seamless, enjoyable experience. And hey, we’re still a little wacky.
In 2018, Noble Rot was nominated semi-finalist by the James Beard Foundation for having an exceptional wine program.
Joseph Hickey – Executive Chef
Having spent 18 years in Dallas, Texas Joseph arrived in Portland in 2009 and The Rot snatched him up immediately. He wore many hats in Texas; construction worker, barkeep, rock & roll drummer to name a few. He opened a catering company in 2000 and that led to his first restaurant, “Savory” in the spring of 2003 and his second restaurant, The State & Allen Lounge a few years later. But as all good things come to an end, Joseph had to let his best buddy go (a dog named Kika Raye) after thirteen years, and so, being dog less, and with a heavy heart, decided it was time for a new start.
He wanted to go farther west than Texas and Portland looked like a great place to start so he packed up and headed out Oregon way knowing no one or nothing about the Pacific Northwest. Joseph still wears many hats; chef, teacher, plumber, refrigeration repairman, deep fryer fixer & guy that can find anything you’ve misplaced.
Kimberly Bernosky - Co-Owner & Founder
By some accident, Kimberly Bernosky was born in the state of Delaware. At fifteen she realized her grandfather’s dream and migrated to Oregon with her family. She went to Oregon City High School and then onto Portland State University. After a few stints at ‘real jobs’ she started working as a server for the McMenamin’s brewpub chain. In 1992, the McMenamin brothers gave her a job in their new winery and tasting room. Her love of wine took root. After traveling to Napa, Walla Walla, France, Italy, Argentina & Chile she opened a retail wine shop, Beaumont Wines. One day, Courtney walked into Beaumont Wines looking for a job in the wine business. After working together for a few short months, Kimberly knew Courtney was the ‘one’ with whom to open a wine bar and the seed for Noble Rot was planted. Kimberly handles the front house including managing, wine buying, & bookkeeping. She loves to travel and run marathons. Kimberly lives in southeast Portland with her husband ‘Sunny D’, step-daughter Dylan and 3 dogs.
Courtney Storrs - Co-owner & Founder
Courtney Storrs is like a grafted grape: deep mid-western roots supporting a seriously pro-Oregon vine. She started working in restaurants when she was 16 and managed her first restaurant at 20. During her college career at the University of Colorado, restaurant work funded her need to ski. Courtney fell in love with wine while working at The French Laundry in Yountville, California. Courtney traveled the US and Europe before settling in Portland, where eventually she took a job at Kimberly’s wine shop. She began to study and taste wine critically. She also worked at Brick House Vineyards, assisting in the production of the ’99, ’00 & ’01 vintages. Courtney has a strong appreciation for food, wine, and service and has always enjoyed dining with family and friends. She's addicted to tennis, she hikes up Mt. Tabor when time allows, she finds herself out in the Gorge as often as possible and loves spending time with her two children, Rye & Charlotte. Courtney runs the front of the house with Kimberly.